U.S. patent number 5,222,529 [Application Number 07/970,441] was granted by the patent office on 1993-06-29 for filling apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to American Cyanamid Company. Invention is credited to William F. Boulay, Donald R. Miller, Bart J. Zoltan.
United States Patent |
5,222,529 |
Zoltan , et al. |
June 29, 1993 |
Filling apparatus
Abstract
An apparatus for filling finely powdered material into a long
and narrow cavity or hole having a relatively small opening is
provided. The apparatus features a discharge port for a particulate
laden gas stream directed toward the opening of the hole to be
filled but spaced apart from the opening of the cavity to be filled
by a gap, so that in operation the powdered material continues
across the gap and into the cavity due to its inertia while the gas
escapes through the gap.
Inventors: |
Zoltan; Bart J. (Old Tappan,
NJ), Boulay; William F. (West Haverstraw, NY), Miller;
Donald R. (Westwood, NJ) |
Assignee: |
American Cyanamid Company
(Stamford, CT)
|
Family
ID: |
27091643 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/970,441 |
Filed: |
October 30, 1992 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
632458 |
Dec 21, 1990 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
141/4; 137/888;
141/249; 141/5; 141/67; 406/146; 406/153 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B
1/16 (20130101); Y10T 137/87587 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
B65B
1/16 (20060101); B65B 031/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;141/1,4,5,67,249,46
;137/205.5,564.5,888 ;417/86,88 ;222/630,637 ;406/146,142,153,171
;128/203.15 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Recla; Henry J.
Assistant Examiner: Douglas; Steven O.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Szatkowski; Thomas S.
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No.
07/632,458 filed on Dec. 21, 1990.
Claims
We claim:
1. An apparatus for filling a long narrow cavity of a device
containing such a cavity with a fine particulate material, which
cavity having a small opening, said apparatus comprising:
(a) supply means for containing a quantity of said fine particulate
material;
(b) a source of gas;
(c) means for providing a moving stream of said gas, said providing
means in communication with said supply means;
(d) means for suspending said fine particulate material in said
moving gas stream, said suspending means communicating with a
discharge port having an orifice so that a gas stream containing
suspended particulate material is discharged through the orifice of
said discharge port;
(e) a housing having an aperture, said aperture defining a means
for positioning the orifice of said discharge port, a gap, a means
for holding said device containing the cavity to be filled and an
overflow means;
(f) said discharge part having said orifice positioned within said
aperture of said housing so as to point to the opening of the
cavity to be filled of said device but spaced apart by said gap,
said gap in communication with an overflow means, wherein upon
discharge of said gas stream containing suspended particulate
material through said orifice, said suspended particulate material
is propelled across the gap and into the cavity to be filled until
the cavity is filled to capacity with said particulate material and
said gas is allowed to escape through said gap into said overflow
means.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said supply means contains a
supply of a fine particulate pharmaceutical composition.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for suspending said
fine particulate material in said moving gas stream comprises a
venturi in which said moving gas stream creates an area of reduced
pressure which draws said particulate material and mixes it with
said gas.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 also having a particulate material
recovery system comprising a collection vessel pneumatically
connected to said overflow means, said collection vessel having an
opening which is open to atmosphere via a filter which is
impervious to said particulate material.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 where said providing means comprises a
timer means for allowing a pulse of gas for a period of time
sufficient to fill the cavity.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said device comprises a
medication dispenser.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said orifice has a width or
diameter equal to or smaller than the opening of the cavity to be
filled.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said gap is not more than 2
times the width or diameter of the orifice of the discharge
port.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for
suspending said particulate material comprises a fluidized bed.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gas comprises
air.
11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gas comprises
nitrogen.
12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gas comprises
carbon dioxide.
13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said particulate
material comprises a pharmaceutical composition.
14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said
pharmaceutical composition comprises minocycline.
15. An apparatus for filling encapsulated minocycline powder into a
small bore diameter medication dispenser having an opening through
which said powder is filled comprising:
(a) supply means for containing a quantity of said encapsulated
minocycline powder;
(b) a source of a pharmaceutically acceptable dry gas;
(c) means for providing a moving stream of said gas, said providing
means in communication with said supply means;
(d) venturi means for suspending said powder in said moving gas
stream, said venturi means communicating with a discharge port
having an orifice so that a gas stream containing suspended powder
is discharged through said orifice of said discharge port;
(e) a housing having an aperture, said aperture defining a means
for positioning the orifice of the discharge port, a gap, a means
for holding said medication dispenser and an overflow means;
(f) said discharge port having said orifice positioned within said
aperture of said housing so as to point to the opening of said
dispenser to be filled but spaced apart by said gap, said gap in
communication with an overflow means, wherein upon discharge of
said gas stream containing suspended powder through said orifice,
said powder is propelled across the gap and into the opening of the
dispenser to be filled until the dispenser is filled to capacity
with powder and said gas in allowed to escape through said gap into
said overflow means.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 also having a particulate material
recovery system comprising a collection vessel pneumatically
connected to said overflow means, said collection vessel having an
opening which is open to atmosphere via a filter which is
impervious to said minocycline powder.
17. A method of filling a cavity of a medication dispensing device,
said cavity having an opening, with a pharmacologically active
powder material, which comprises:
(a) providing a supply of said powder material and a supply of
pharmaceutically acceptable gas;
(b) positioning the opening of the cavity of the device to be
filled so as to face an orifice through which a gas stream
containing a suspended powder is discharged but spaced apart from
said orifice by a gap;
(c) causing said powder to be continuously suspended in a
substantially continuously moving stream of said gas and
discharging said gas stream containing suspended powder through
said orifice pointed at the opening of the cavity to be filled but
spaced apart by said gap, wherein upon discharge of said gas stream
through said orifice said powder material is propelled across the
gap into the cavity to be filled until the cavity is filled to
capacity with said powder and said gas is allowed to escape to the
atmosphere via said gap.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein said cavity is contained in a
device comprising a moveable surface to adjust the volume of said
cavity.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a filling apparatus, particularly an
apparatus for filling a finely powdered material into a long and
narrow cavity or hole having a relatively small opening.
2. Description of Prior Art
It is desirable to administer a pharmacologically active material
in a finely powdered form to a patient. For example, anti-ashma and
other drugs have been administered via oral inhalation type
dispensing devices. One problem with administering finely powdered
materials is that it is often necessary to accurately and
repeatably fill long and narrow cavities or holes that comprise the
dispensing apparatus with a measured unit dosage amount of the
material.
In this regard, recently, an apparatus and method for dispensing a
finely powdered solid antibiotic therapeutic agent into the
periodontal pocket of a patient suffering from periodontal disease
has been developed (U.S. Ser. Nos. 054,372, 288,739, 289,076 and
Ser. No. 593,125. The apparatus includes a narrow tip portion
sufficiently small to fit into the periodontal pocket. The powdered
therapeutic agent is disposed within a narrow bore located in the
tip and dispensed from the tip into the periodontal pocket.
Filling the narrow bore of the periodontal dispensing apparatus
with the proper amount of the powdered therapeutic agent has proved
to be a difficult task due to the small opening through which the
agent must enter and the relatively long and narrow hole which must
be filled. In addition, due to the fact that a standard dosage of
the therapeutic agent must be delivered to the periodontal pocket,
the dispensing apparatus must be filled in a precise and repeatable
manner.
One known way of filling a cylinder such as a cartridge with a
powdered material such as gun powder involves placing the gun
powder in a funnel and allowing gravity to feed it through the
funnel stem into the cartridge. This method would not be useful to
fill the periodontal dispensing apparatus described above because
the hole to be filled is too narrow to allow particles to flow
through by gravity feed. In addition, the therapeutic agent is
hydroscopic and does not flow evenly.
Another way to fill a long and narrow hole such as the bore in the
periodontal dispensing apparatus includes gathering a mound of the
powder, and tamping the bore repeatedly into the mound, until the
desired weight of medication has been added to the weight of the
dispenser. This method, however, is extremely time consuming and
inaccurate.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an
apparatus capable of filling a long and narrow cavity or hole
having a relatively small opening with a finely powdered material.
It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus
capable of accurately filling a long and narrow hole or cavity of
an apparatus for dispensing such material with a unit dosage amount
of a pharmacologically active powdered material.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a filling apparatus for dispensing and
filling a finely powdered material into a long and narrow cavity or
hole having a relatively small opening which apparatus includes a
discharge port having an orifice positioned so as to point at the
opening of the cavity to be filled, but spaced apart from the
opening of the cavity or hole by a gap, means for suspending the
finely powdered material into a moving gas stream and discharging
the gas stream through the orifice of the discharge port, whereby
as the gas stream containing the suspended powdered material is
discharged through the orifice of the discharge port the powder
bridges the gap and fills the hole or cavity while the gas escapes
through the gap. The gap between the discharge port and the opening
of the cavity or hole to be filled should be a distance not greater
than twice the size of the orifice of the discharge port,
preferably a distance of about 0.2 to 2 times the size of the
orifice of the discharge port. Since the density of the powder is
typically much greater than that of the gas, the gas can easily
change direction and escape through the gap, however, the powder
which is denser, continues because of its inertia into the long and
narrow cavity or hole. For the cavity or hole to be filled, the far
end of the hole must be blocked. In the event that devices such as
a small pipe or tube are to be filled, the far end can be
temporarily blocked until the filling is complete. When the hole is
filled to capacity the excess powder automatically exits through
the gap, and may be reclaimed for use, if desired. In the case of
the present invention the powder is reclaimed because the powder is
a pharmaceutical product which is valuable, and which must be
accounted for.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 depicts the discharge port, gap and the cavity or hole to be
filled.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the control elements of the
system.
FIG. 3 depicts one embodiment of a filling apparatus according to
the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the manifold of the nozzle
assembly.
FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the nozzle housing.
FIG. 6 depicts a dispenser which is filled with an apparatus
according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 shows a histogram of fill weights for a pharmaceutical
powder, where the target fill weight was 4.5 milligrams.
FIG. 8 depicts one embodiment of a multiple unit dose powder
dispenser of the type useful for medications which can be delivered
by way of oral inhalation.
FIG. 9 depicts another embodiment of a filling apparatus according
to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The filling apparatus of the present invention is particularly
suited for filling a long and narrow cavity or hole having a
relatively small opening with a finely powdered material. For this
invention narrow is considered to be about 1 millimeter in width or
diameter or smaller, and long is considered greater than about
seven millimeters in length. The cavity or hole to be filled may be
of any cross sectional shape and may for example include square,
rectangular, spherical, or an irregular shape. The hole need not
have a uniform cross section. For this invention, a relatively
small opening is considered to be about 1 millimeter in width or
diameter or smaller. As with the cavity or hole the opening may be
of various shapes.
The invention is particularly suited for filling various dispensing
devices for dispensing unit dosage forms of pharmacologically
active materials. In this regard, it is recognized that the
material must be packed into the cavity of the dispensing device in
such a way so that it can be dispensed therefrom. The apparatus of
the present invention is uniquely suited for this type of filling
in that the powdered materials are not packed too tightly due to
the fact that they are transported via a moving gas stream. Further
in this regard, it will be appreciated that cylindrical cavities
are particularly suited to be filled by the present apparatus
because cylindrical barrels and cylindrical plungers provide
reproducible cross sections and volumes for dispensing. Also,
cylindrical plungers are well suited to dispense all of the
material without leaving any behind in corners, etc. In the event
that a cavity has more than one opening, all but one must be
temporarily blocked during the filling operation or otherwise the
particle laden gas stream will exit through the other openings and
the cavity will not be filled. This temporary blocking can be
easily removed and thus items such as small tubes or pipes are
filled.
The filling apparatus of the present invention is particularly
suited for filling all types of finely powdered solid materials
such as pharmacologically active powdered materials. Among the
pharmacologically active agents which can be finely powdered and
thus are amenable for filling by the present apparatus are peptides
and proteins. Specific examples of the latter are: aerial
natriuretic factor, tumor necrosis factor, oxytocin, vasopressin,
adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), epidemial growth factor,
tryocidins, gramicidins, renin, bradykinin, angiotensins,
enctorphins, enkephalins, calcitonin, salmon calcitonin, secretin,
calcitonin gene related factor, tissue plasminogen factor, kidney
plasminogen factor, cholecystokinin, melanocyte inhibiting factor,
melanocyte stimulating hormone, neuropeptide y, nerve growth
factor, muramyl dipeptide, thymopoietin, human growth hormone,
porcine growth hormone, sodium pentemedine, bovine growth hormone,
insulin, thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), arogastrone,
pentagastrin, tetragastrin, gastrin, interferons, glucagon,
somatostatin, prolactin, superoxide dismutose, luteinizing hormone
releasing hormone(LHRH),
H-5-Oxo-Pro-His-Trp-Ser-Tyr-DTrp-Leu-Arg-Pro-Gly-NH.sub.2,
H-5-Oxo-Pro-His-Trp-Ser-Tyr-3-(2Napthyl)-D-alanyl-Leu-Arg-Pro-Gly-NH.sub.2
, Luteinizing hormone-releasing factor (pig),
6-[0-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-D-serine]-10-deglycinamide-,
2-(aminocarbonyl)hydrazide (9CI), Luteinizing hormone-releasing
factor (pig),
6-[0-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-D-serine]-9-[N-ethyl-L-prolinamide)-10-deglycinam
ide(9CI), Luteinizing hormone-releasing factor (pig),
6-D-leucine-9-(N-ethyl-L-prolinamide)-10-deglycinamide-(9CI) and
synthetic analogs and modifications and pharmacologically active
fragments thereof and pharmaceutically acceptable salts
thereof.
Other classes of compounds suitable for filling via the present
apparatus includes: penicillins, betalactamase inhibitors,
cephalosporins, quinolones, aminoglycoside antibiotics (gentamicin,
tobramycin, kanamycin, amikacin), estradiol, norethisterone,
norethindrone, progesterone, testosterone, amcinonide, achromycin,
tetracyclines (doxycycline, minocycline, oxytetracycline,
tetracycline, chlortetracycline, demeclocycline, methacyline),
clindamycin, Vitamin B-12, anesthetics (procaine, tetracaine,
lidocaine, mepivacaine, etidocaine), mitoxantrone, bisantrene,
doxorubicin, mitomycin C, bleomycin, vinblastine, vincristine,
cytosine arabinoside, ARA-AC, actinomycin D, daunomycin, daunomycin
benzoylhydrazone, nitrogen mustards, 5-azacytidine, calcium
leucovorin, cis-platinum compounds, 5-fluorouracil, methotrexate,
aminopterin, maytansine, melphalan, mecaptopurines, methyl CCNU,
hexamethylmelamine, etoposide, hydroxyurea, levamisole,
mitoquanzone, misonidazole, pentostatin, teniposide, thioquanine,
dichloromethotrexate, chloprothixene, molindone, loxapine,
haloperidol, chlorpromazine, triflupromazine, mesoridazine,
thioridazine, fluphenazine, perphenazine, trifluoperazine,
thiothixene, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the
foregoing, hydromorphone, oxymorphone, levorphenol, hydrocodone,
oxcodone, nalophine, naloxone, naltrexone, buprenorphine,
butorphenol, nalbuphine, mepridine, alphaprodine, anileridine,
dipenoxylate, fentanyl and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the
foregoing. The foregoing may be utilized in finely powdered form,
having sizes of from about 0.5 micron or larger. However, it will
be appreciated that the materials may not be of such a large size
to prevent suspension in a moving gas stream. In addition, useful
materials include those microencapsulated pharmaceutical products
of the type described in Ser. No. 054,372, the contents of which
are incorporated by reference. Other suitable materials include
these described in Ser. No. 288,739 and Ser. No. 289,076. These
microencapsulated materials typically have sizes of 20 to 120
micron diameter, which are suitable for filling with the present
apparatus.
It will be appreciated that the type of gas which is used to
suspend the particles of solid material must be compatible with the
material and in the case of pharmaceutical products must meet
sanitary requirements. In this regard, and bearing in mind the
compatibility and sanitary requirements it is contemplated that a
wide variety of gasses may be employed, including, air, nitrogen,
dry air, carbon dioxide, argon and other inert gasses. Dry air or
nitrogen will be preferred in connection with hydroscopic or
hydrophillic particles.
Referring to FIG. 1, discharge port 1 having orifice 4 with a width
or diameter D is positioned so as to point at opening 5 of
dispensing device 3 having cavity 2. Opening 5 has a width or
diameter X. The discharge port 1 is spaced apart from the opening 5
of the cavity 2 by a gap G. The width or diameter D of orifice 4 of
the discharge port must be equal to or smaller than the width or
diameter X of opening 5 of cavity 2 to be filled. In some instances
such as for discharge ports orifices or cavity openings with
irregular or different shapes, it will be desirable for the
discharge port to fit within the cavity opening. If the width or
diameter of orifice 4 of the discharge port exceeds that of the
width or diameter X of cavity 2, much of the particulate material
suspended in the gas stream will flow by the side of the device 3
and will thus not enter cavity 2. The orifice 4 of discharge port 1
and opening 5 of device 3 are spaced apart by a distance identified
as gap G. It has been found that a gap of not greater than 2 times
the width or diameter D of orifice 4 fits this criterion. It is
preferred that gap G be a distance of 0.2 to 2 times the width or
diameter D. The size of the gap G must be sufficiently large so
that gas will be allowed to escape but not so large that the
particulate material will not be carried along in the gas stream
and bridge the gap.
In the embodiment of the apparatus described herein with reference
to FIGS. 2-4, the discharge port orifice has a diameter of 0.038
inches and the gap is 0.010 inches.
It will be appreciated that the powdered material may be suspended
in a moving gas stream by any number of devices such as the venturi
device described in greater detail herein or a fluidized bed or any
other device which results in suspending particles of material in a
moving stream of gas. The particular device must be capable however
of suspending a sufficient amount of particles to fill the required
cavities quickly and efficiently but not to allow too many
particles to become suspended else they clog the discharge port or
the gap. In this regard, for example, the flow rate of the gas
through a device such as a venturi may be regulated to maintain a
proper suspension of particles in the gas stream.
In one embodiment the filling apparatus includes a container for
holding the powdered material to be filled, a source of gas
(preferably dry air, or nitrogen), a regulator to provide the
required volumetric flow rate, a venturi nozzle assembly for
discharging the gas and drawing up the powder into the stream of
discharged gas. Optionally it may also have an overflow collector
for trapping powder which was in excess of the volume required to
fill the narrow bore hole.
Referring to FIG. 2, a supply of gas 10 is regulated by a regulator
15 prior to being connected to a solenoid controlled pneumatic
valve 20. When the pneumatic valve 20 is energized by a standard
115 volt source 25, a solenoid controlled valve opens, permitting
the gas to flow through pipe 30 to the filling system. Because for
the operation of this invention only a brief burst of gas is
required, an adjustable timer relay 35 is set to limit the time
duration of the opening of the solenoid controlled pneumatic valve
to under one second. It is not a requirement that the gas supply be
pulsed, but it is preferred, to avoid packing of the finely
powdered material. The closing of the timer relay 35 is initiated
by the activation of a footswitch closure of switch 40.
The filling system is shown in greater detail in FIG. 3. The gas
supply to the system 30 is shown in both FIGS. 1 and 2. The gas
supply is connected to the venturi nozzle assembly 45 using a
standard pneumatic connector 50. In the venturi nozzle assembly 45,
the gas enters a manifold 55 which is shown both in FIGS. 3 and 4.
Referring to FIG. 4, a powder supply tube 60 runs through the
manifold, and acts as the backbone of the manifold assembly. Collar
65 permits gas to enter the manifold assembly through opening
feature 70 and to pass through plenum 75, and to exit through
orifices 80 on orifice plate 85. In this way, the gas is discharged
through a plurality of orifices and will envelop the powder supply
tube 60.
The gas supply 30 in FIG. 3 is divided at tee connector 90 to go to
both the nozzle assembly 45, and to the supply of powder 95, and
more specifically to the space above the powder, identified as 100.
In the pulsed mode of operation, by pressurizing the powder source,
powder begins to dispense very quickly. Without this "bias
pressure", it would take several seconds for the venturi effect to
develop useful powder flow. The sipper tube 110 is immersed in the
powder 105 and goes through the manifold assembly and into the
nozzle assembly 45.
FIG. 5, shows the nozzle housing 115. The supply of gas enters
through cylindrical opening 120, and the manifold is installed
through opening 125. The small bore cylinder to be filled will be
placed into cylindrical holding feature 130, and the overflow of
powder, if any, will escape through overflow conduit 135.
In use, the gas after exiting nozzle 80 is constrained to flow
through a necked down venturi area 140 defined by the clearance
between manifold 115 and powder supply tube 60. Because the gas
velocity is high through the venturi 140, the pressure in this area
is greatly reduced.
This area of low pressure draws powder 105 through sipper 110,
mixes the gas with the powder, and the gas/powder mixture is
discharged through the discharge port 131. In use, as shown on FIG.
3, the dispensing device having a cavity to be filled 145 is held
in a holding feature 130 of nozzle housing 115.
Critical to the operation of this device is the gap G. Overflow
conduit 135 allows excess gas and powdered material to escape
during the fill process. In operation, the powder is packed by the
velocity of the gas/powder mixture into the cavity of the
dispensing device 145, but the much lower density gas is able to
change direction and exit through the gap G and overflow conduit
135.
Some quantity of powder will be mixed with the overflow gas, and
will be carried into the overflow collector 150. To prevent
pressurizing the overflow collector 150, there is a vent to
atmosphere provision 155. If the vessel 150 collecting the overflow
were not vented to atmosphere, pressure would build up in the
vessel. As this pressure increased, it would reach the point where
the pressure used to propel the gas would equal the pressure of the
overflow vessel. At this point there would be no pressure
differential, and therefore no motive force. To keep the ambient
environment from being contaminated by the powder being filled,
there is a filter 160 in the overflow collector to keep the powder
from escaping, and also to recover the powder in those applications
where the powdered material is valuable.
Referring to FIG. 6, dispenser 200 is comprised of two parts, a
barrel 210 and plunger 220. In a preferred embodiment, exactly 4.5
milligrams of a pharmaceutically active material is metered into
the dispenser 200. Modified depth micrometer 230 is mounted into
block 240 so that when the micrometer barrel is turned, attached
pin 235 moves inward or outward depending on the direction of
micrometer barrel rotation. Pin 235 is sized so as to fit easily
into dispenser barrel 210. In use, plunger 220 is depressed, and
then the dispenser assembly is impaled upon pin 235 so as to set a
fixed, and repeatable position of plunger 220 in barrel 210. If the
amount of material to be metered is always fixed, the micrometer
adjustment need not be used, and can be replaced with a fixed
length pin.
The embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 to 6 has been evaluated to
determine if it accurately and precisely filled the cavity 250 in
dispenser 200. FIG. 7, shows a typical histogram of fill weights or
approximately 5400 fills.
The x-axis of the histogram shows the fill weights of 5400
periodontal dispensers filled with the antibiotic minocycline. The
resultant fill weights are divided, for the purpose of
presentation, into 14 bins, from 3.9 milligrams to 5.2 milligrams
in 0.1 milligram increments. The y-axis of the histogram shows the
number of dispensers which had the indicated fill weight.
It is apparent that the fill weights are narrowly clustered.
Specifically, the average fill weight is 4.5 milligrams (which was
the target fill weight), with a standard deviation of 0.19
milligrams. This 4.22 percent standard deviation is acceptable for
pharmaceutical applications.
The apparatus described in this application may also be used to
fill other medication delivery devices which deliver powdered
inhalants to the lung. Specifically, certain medications are most
effective when delivered directly to the lungs of the patient.
Examples include drugs against reversible airway obstruction such
as asthma, drugs to control pulmonary illnesses or infections, any
drugs to fight off opportunistic infections of the lungs which tend
to infect patients who have antibodies to the HIV virus (AIDS).
Examples also include polypeptide products of biotechnology.
Freeze-dryed polypeptides could be delivered by the pulmonary route
of administration. These rDNA products are very potent, and the
required dosages are likely to be small. The subject invention is
capable of accurately metering small volumes of powdered drug into
a dispenser for later use.
FIG. 8 shows one apparatus for storing multiple-doses of powdered
material and which is useful in medication delivery devices for
delivery of medication to the lungs. It is comprised of a support
plate 800, preferably made of plastic or paper, having a mounting
feature 810, shown as a hole but which may be one of any practical
holding means, and also having one or more long, thin tube-like
devices 820a through 820n, for holding one or several dosages of
the drug. The subject invention can be used to fill these tube like
devices with drug. The devices must be made of a material which can
readily be pierced or broken, so that the complete contents of one
device is available for therapy. The number of such devices is a
design choice, but can easily encompass from one (1) to thirty (30)
dosages. The apparatus of the present invention can be used to fill
one device at a time, with provision having been made to seal the
filled device, and then stepping the support plate 800 to present
the next position, such as 820b to the filling apparatus.
In the alternative it is practical to build a filling apparatus
according to the present invention with multiple venturis, and
multiple sources and gaps, so that all of the devices on plate 800
are filled simultaneously.
FIG. 9 is a modification of FIG. 2 to the filling apparatus of FIG.
2 adapted to fill the dispenser device 820a instead of filling the
small bore cylinder. Nozzle housing 115 is modified so that opening
130 shown in FIG. 4 is replaced by slit 900. Support plate 800 is
capable of being rotated about axis 910, so as to present devices
810a, 810b, 810c, etc. to the discharge port.
* * * * *